Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-25
DAILY HERALD.
A POETS SUMNER.
Jehn Boyle O,Reilly's Seaside
Home mt Point Allcrt0n.

day, the writer looked in upon the
Quaint old home where John Boyle
O'Reilly is passing the summer with
his family. The average visitor to
Hull, who gets no farther than the
Pemberton or the yacht clubhouse,
has little idea OF the pictures queness
of the locality where the poet has
fixed his habitatiou. A walk there
from the steamboat landing along the
Quiet road, which looks as if it might
be way back in the country, after the
view OF the sea has been shut out, il
full OF interest, . one passes pastures
and queer houses, which have
grown out of their original shape ant
been touched with bits of color, which
show the influence of the decorative
taste of the summer visitor. Mr.
O'Reilley's house is near the cove
which has such a placid, shelterins
look, and, indeed, is a most excellent
harbor for the fishermen's boats, as
well as for the jauntier craft of the
city people. There is suggestion Of
the quiet haven upon which Ham Pc
gotty looked out, in David Copper
field" in this placid cove, and the
hull of an old vessel half buried in
the sands adds to the impression
which the first glimpse OF the place
gives.
From Mr.. O'Reiily's piazza the view
of this little harbor, and OF the islands
beyond. is exceedingly restful. His
home, which, as is well known, is the
Oldest in Hull. has very interesting
associations. There is fresh life for
the old-time structure in the bright
setting which he has given it, and
which has added much to its pictur-
esqueness. Its contrasting hues of
yellow and black are accented by the
grassy slope which runs down to the
road in front, and which is decked
with cherry and other trees that
stretch their boughs near its shady
piazza. The poet has lately placed in
this verdant enclosure an interesting
reminder of that aspect OF life at Hull
which is unthought of by the summer
visitor, but which colors with its
shadows the experience of the
people who live there throughout the
year. 1t is an old iron cannon which
was taken from the bark kadosh !,
that was wrecked off Point Allerton-
the extreme end of Hula dozen or
more years ago. This gun, which is
mounted on carriage, is one of two
which the Kadosh carried as a protec-
ton from the pirates of the Indian
seas, and its massive and frowning
look suggests the execution it was ca
pable Of doing among those swarthy
desperadoes. But the sight of the old
gun awakened memories of the fate of
the bark on the Hull coast in winter
for it happened that the writer had
occasion to talk with the survivors of
that terrible experience. When the
Kadosh struck, the captain put off for
the shore with the boat, but she could
not live in the awful sea, and he and
all on hoard perished. The mate s
boat was more fortunate, but he and
his crew had desperate pull for dear
life in that fearful storm, and
THE sUFFERINGs THEY ENDURED.
Amid the icy sleet and the waves that
wet them to the skin, were such as tc
unnerve any but men of iron. 1t was
the merest chance that enabled them
to land in safety, and then they had
to walk for miles through the deep
snow to place of shelter. Doubtless
the old gun in front of Mr.. O'Reilly's
house would, in his hands, prove a
most admirable subject for such a
poem as he knows so well how to
write, in which the adventures of the
ill-fated bark would be set forth in
vivid colors, and the pathos of the
loss OF the captain and his boats
crew within such short distance OF
Hull would be deepened in his thrill
ling description.
There are other and even more i'm
pressive relics of the trials that have
overwhelmed SO many voyagers off
Point Allerton in the head or stern
boards of the various vessels which
have been wrecked off this promon-
tory. A few years ago there was a
band stand in the road opposite Mr..
OReilly's house, and on the octagon
sides of this structures were the head
boards of these vessels, bearing their
several names, the whole forming a
most impressive reminder of the ex-
periences of these craft on this inhos-
pitable coast in winter. Mr.. O'Reilly
was wuch impressed by the signiG-
canoe of this arrangement of head
boards, and it has been source of re-
gret to him that the structure preserv-
ing them has been removed.
1t was Mr.. O'Reilly's original inten-
ton to erect cottage at Point Aller-
ton, the very place from which view
is had OF the scene of the wrecks that
take place along this coast in winter,
hut he changed his plans, thinking a
less exposed and more accessible loca-
ton more desirable as summer resi-
dence for his family. His present
location is within easy reach OF Boston
by steamboat, and it affords Just the
advantage which a busy journalist
needs for rest and recreation. This
summer he has his wife and children
with him, and it is very charming
family that gathers under his roof
Mrs. O'Reilly, though not completely
restored to health, is much stronger
tldl Sic Has Deen IOr years, and tC
have her at home with him is a
source of greater qualification to heI
husband. She is woman of re.
markable intelligence. She has keer
perception of character, and in con
versation she exhibits readiness anC
felicity of expression which shows
that she has her intellectual power,
wei! in hand. She formerly hat
charge of department in the Pilot
and it was her strenuous devotion t,
this work, in addition to the cares O
her family, which proved too mucl
for her strength. She still retains
HER LITERARY AMBITION,
And her bright eye indicates that he
intellectual vigor is unabated.
Mr.. O'Reilly has four children-a
pirls-who seem to combine the trail
OF her parents. Two of them sugge.
their father in appearance, havin
dark compilations, black hair and lu
trous black ewes. They have been a
admirably educated, and, in additio